An interventional study of Single-session VR exposure intervention in Public Speaking and Speech Anxiety, sponsored by Boston University Charles River Campus. Completed at 13 sites in 5 countries. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 70 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-12-18.
Sponsored by Boston University Charles River Campus · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Exposure-based cognitive behavior therapy is an efficacious treatment for speech anxiety and has been delivered effectively in a virtual reality (VR) environment. The present multicenter study (conducted through the Exposure Therapy Consortium) is designed to evaluate whether trait versus state positive affectivity is a more effective predictor of exposure therapy outcomes. Further, the investigators will examine whether the predictive significance of trait positive affectivity can be accounted for by examination of baseline levels of self-efficacy, hope, and optimism.
The goal of this multicenter clinical trial is to examine predictors of VR exposure therapy outcomes for college students with public speaking anxiety following a positive or negative mood induction. The overarching aim of the present study is to evaluate whether trait versus state positive affectivity is a more effective predictor of exposure therapy outcomes. Further, the investigators will examine whether the predictive significance of trait positive affectivity can be accounted for by examination of baseline levels of self-efficacy, hope, and optimism. State affect is manipulated at an experimental level with affect induction procedures; trait positive affectivity is measured at baseline.
The study involves three phases: (1) initial screening, (2) in-person assessment and brief exposure intervention for a subset of participants with elevated public speaking anxiety, and (3) a one-week follow-up assessment conducted online. Students who choose to participate and screen high on a public speaking anxiety scale will be assigned to a positive or negative mood induction condition prior to undergoing VR-based exposure therapy. Public speaking and social anxiety outcomes are measured immediately post-intervention and one week later. The one-week follow-up assessment represents the primary outcome.
67 studies on the registry are indexed under Speech; 46 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 1,542 is above the median of 60 across 56 interventional studies indexed under Speech.
Browse Speech studies →Boston University Charles River Campus is the lead sponsor of 154 studies on the registry; 30 are open to participants now.
Of its 14 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 8 (57%) have results posted.
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Exclusion Criteria:
VR exposure is the only intervention, but the VR intervention is conducted following either positive or negative mood induction.
Behavioral: Single-session VR exposure intervention
VR exposure is the only intervention, but the VR intervention is conducted following either positive or negative mood induction.
Public Speaking Anxiety
Assessed using the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension, Public Speaking Subscale (PRCA-PS). Scores range from 6 to 30, with higher scores associated with higher public speaking anxiety.
Time frame: One week follow-up assessment
Valence
Self-report measure of how participant feels about having to give a speech
Time frame: One week follow-up assessment
Assessed using the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN)
Assessed using the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN). Scores range from 0-68, with higher scores indicating greater social phobia.
Time frame: One week follow-up assessment
Public Speaking Anxiety
Assessed using the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension, Public Speaking Subscale (PRCA-PS). Scores range from 6 to 30, with higher scores associated with higher public speaking anxiety.
Time frame: Post-treatment assessment immediately after the intervention
Plan to share: Yes — Data will be posted on the Open Science Foundation site.
Supporting information: Study protocol
This study is completed, as verified in Dec 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Boston University Charles River Campus